The firm has one of the most experienced employee benefits practice in the region, managing more than 1,000 separate benefits and compensation plans. Our attorneys simplify the lives of human resources professionals in all types of companies, ranging from family owned business to Fortune 500 companies.

Joseph B. Hurst, Jr.is the head of the firm's Employee Benefits Practice Group. His works with the benefit needs for financial institutions, regular business organizations, professional corporations and governmental and non-profit organizations. He assists plan sponsors and fiduciaries with regulatory compliance with ERISA, state and federal tax issues and with local legislation affecting retirement and welfare plans. In addition, he acts as counsel to plan sponsors, fiduciaries and participants with respect to ERISA controversies and litigation. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Employee Benefits; ranked in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Labor and Employment: Employee Benefits and Compensation and selected by attorney peers for inclusion in Mid-South Super Lawyers.

Wyckliff Nisbet, Jr. has practiced at the firm since 1974 specializing in employee benefits and taxation. He has more than 40 years of experience representing employers in the design, implementation and administration of tax-qualified retirement plans, non-qualified deferred compensation and executive compensation. He represents and counsels employers in employee welfare benefit programs. In addition, he works with business owners, professionals and individuals with high net worth in estate planning and wealth transfer planning. Wyckliff is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Employee Benefits; ranked in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Labor and Employment: Employee Benefits and Compensation and selected by attorney peers for inclusion in Mid-South Super Lawyers.

David M. Grafconcentrates his practice on nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and welfare benefit plans for financial institutions, regular business organizations, professional corporations, and governmental and non-profit organizations. He assists plan sponsors and fiduciaries with regulatory compliance with ERISA, state and federal tax issues, and with local legislation affecting retirement and welfare plans. In addition, he acts as counsel to plan sponsors, fiduciaries and participants with respect to ERISA controversies and litigation. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Employee Benefits and named Lawyer of the Year by the publication in 2015. Dave is a frequent speaker on employee benefits matters and an active community member currently serving as mayor of Cammack Village.

Alexandra Ifrahbrings almost 20 years of experience to her clients, working closely with Human Resources leaders, CEOs, CFOs, and business owners throughout the region to provide counsel on complex employee benefits, taxation and executive compensation arrangements. She has focused much of her practice on designing and implementing qualified retirement plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, health and welfare benefit plans, and fringe benefit plans for clients including nonprofits, governmental entities, small businesses and Fortune 500 companies. Alexandra also has extensive experience in assisting Human Resources professionals and ERISA fiduciaries in administering their employee benefits plans to comply with all applicable laws and regulations affecting every aspects of the employee benefits offered to their employees. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Employee Benefits and named Lawyer of the Year by the publication in 2016, Alexandra joined the firm in 1999.

Brian C. Smith focuses his practice on retirement plans (including defined benefit plans, profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans, ESOPs, 403(b) plans and 457(b) plan) and nonqualified deferred compensation plans for financial institutions, business entities, professional corporations and governmental and non-profit organizations. Brian assists plan sponsors and fiduciaries with ERISA regulatory compliance, state and federal tax issues and local legislation affecting retirement plans. In addition, he represents plan sponsors and fiduciaries with respect to plan audits by the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor. Brian has been with the firm since 2003.

Joshua M. Osborne practice focuses on providing counsel to clients on all aspects of their welfare benefits, retirement plans and executive compensation arrangements. He has extensive experience in designing and implementing group health plans (self-insured and fully insured), cafeteria plans, wellness programs and other welfare benefits and regularly advises clients on the ongoing administration of their benefit programs in order to maintain compliance under the Affordable Care Act, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA and other applicable laws. Josh regularly assists Fortune 500 companies, small business, non-profit and governmental entities on navigating the complex health care reform laws including 1094/1095 reporting and employer shared responsibility requirements. He has been with the firm since 2006.

Jeremiah D. Woodworks for a variety of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, local and regional financial institutions, privately held business organizations, professional corporations, governmental organizations and non-profit organizations. Jeremiah assists his clients (as plan sponsors and fiduciaries) with regulatory compliance related to the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA and HIPAA as well as with state and local tax issues (including recent legislation) affecting retirement and welfare plans. In addition, he acts as counsel for his clients with respect to ERISA controversies and litigation and he regularly handles matters that involve correcting errors using the Internal Revenue Service Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) and the Department of Labor Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program.